Sorry, Pat, but what exactly is the point of this post? Maybe I've missed something, but it seems to me that the intent is to give this particular reviewer a bit of a bashing. Just don't seem like cricket to me, especially when coming from a fellow reviewer.
Alrin: For many months now, since Klausner is reviewing like 1000 books a year, many people have been wondering if she could possibily read everything she reviews. . .
I just found Buckell's post to be hilarious, for the woman obviously hasn't read RAGAMUFFIN. Hence, how could she possibly give the novel a negative review?
Understood. I haven't read any of her reviews, placing no stock in Amazon reviewers myself (that's not to say that there aren't any decent reviewers on Amazon, simply that I, myself, don't pay much attention to the site for review purposes). It seems that I did, indeed, miss the point, after all.
As to my deleted comment, it was concerning the "horrible human being" remark of the initial poster, which I found to be in bad taste to say the least. I decided to scrap it because I lack enough info to form a constructive opinion on the matter, and didn't want to cause grief on the blog.
Anyway, apologies if my previous post came across as nitpicking/nagging/chuntish/etc. Drinks occasionally do that to me. ;)
You know what, I think I've just found her Polish equivalent. Well, not quite, but she seems to be very productive with 1200 reviews in the biggest polish online bookshop.
In addition to this, the reviews of her that I've had the misfortune to read have actually contained big spoilers. Probably in an attempt to make people believe she actually read the books.
Perhaps every country has its Harriet, waiting for the perfect moment to rise from the depths? I mean, there's a Polish one now. Maybe it's a conglomerate in the making, and the fact that one Harriet has read it doesn't mean that another Harriet has.
HK writes highly favorable "reviews" of virtually every book she "reads". Favorable reviews sell books. It's not hard to see why Amazon (and for that matter all the book publishers) must love her. I'm not sure that she can really be called a "reviewer" any more. She's really more of an unpaid freelance marketing agent for the book industry.
Ed S said it all. Almost every HK review is a 5 star review--sure to sell books, especially if she's the only reviewer.
I've never seen her give anything under a 4-star, and even 4 stars are very few and far between. When HK gives only 4 stars the book must really be bad (in her opinion).
In addition to what Ed said: HK is not alone. There's a crowd of 'reviewers' like her on Amazon (and I suppose everywhere else). It's just they're not THAT blatant.
Though they're pretty bold too. Check out our list of Our Friends Top Reviewers and you'll see what I mean. Check out guys like John Matlock "Gunny", or W.Boudville, or Robert Morris -- the list goes on and on.
Hurriet does give the very infrequent three star review. You can find a link to one such review on The Harriet Klausner Appreciation Society blog.
I left a comment on her review of Buckell's book because it was patently obvious she had not read the novel.
She has reviewed a lot of really good authors in addition to the Nascar romances and Christian fiction that make up her usual fare. That was what first made me notice her, and once you've seen her in action it's mesmerizing, like looking at a train wreck.
To say I hate that woman would be an understatement. She's a horrible human being for posting reviews when she clearly hasn't read the books...grr
ReplyDeleteSorry, Pat, but what exactly is the point of this post? Maybe I've missed something, but it seems to me that the intent is to give this particular reviewer a bit of a bashing. Just don't seem like cricket to me, especially when coming from a fellow reviewer.
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I totally missed the point.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlrin: For many months now, since Klausner is reviewing like 1000 books a year, many people have been wondering if she could possibily read everything she reviews. . .
ReplyDeleteI just found Buckell's post to be hilarious, for the woman obviously hasn't read RAGAMUFFIN. Hence, how could she possibly give the novel a negative review?
Understood. I haven't read any of her reviews, placing no stock in Amazon reviewers myself (that's not to say that there aren't any decent reviewers on Amazon, simply that I, myself, don't pay much attention to the site for review purposes). It seems that I did, indeed, miss the point, after all.
ReplyDeleteAs to my deleted comment, it was concerning the "horrible human being" remark of the initial poster, which I found to be in bad taste to say the least. I decided to scrap it because I lack enough info to form a constructive opinion on the matter, and didn't want to cause grief on the blog.
Anyway, apologies if my previous post came across as nitpicking/nagging/chuntish/etc. Drinks occasionally do that to me. ;)
You know what, I think I've just found her Polish equivalent. Well, not quite, but she seems to be very productive with 1200 reviews in the biggest polish online bookshop.
ReplyDeleteI think every country has their own Harriet...
This ought to sum up Harriet quite nicely ;)
ReplyDeleteIn addition to this, the reviews of her that I've had the misfortune to read have actually contained big spoilers. Probably in an attempt to make people believe she actually read the books.
ReplyDeletePerhaps every country has its Harriet, waiting for the perfect moment to rise from the depths? I mean, there's a Polish one now. Maybe it's a conglomerate in the making, and the fact that one Harriet has read it doesn't mean that another Harriet has.
ReplyDeleteLOL! At least she doesn't mention "great writers such as Robert Stanek" ... Does she ?
ReplyDeleteFunny, I wrote a post on my blog about this months ago. If you're interested go HERE to read the post and see what others have to say about her.
ReplyDeleteyeah, well have you discovered the Harriet Klausner Appreciation Society yet???
ReplyDeleteHK writes highly favorable "reviews" of virtually every book she "reads". Favorable reviews sell books. It's not hard to see why Amazon (and for that matter all the book publishers) must love her. I'm not sure that she can really be called a "reviewer" any more. She's really more of an unpaid freelance marketing agent for the book industry.
ReplyDeleteRepulsive woman. She shouldn't get away with it.
ReplyDeleteShe asked David Anthony Durham for a review copy of his book after she'd reviewed it on Amazon! LOL. That caught her out.
Ed S said it all. Almost every HK review is a 5 star review--sure to sell books, especially if she's the only reviewer.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen her give anything under a 4-star, and even 4 stars are very few and far between. When HK gives only 4 stars the book must really be bad (in her opinion).
Surely someone is paying her for her efforts...
In addition to what Ed said: HK is not alone. There's a crowd of 'reviewers' like her on Amazon (and I suppose everywhere else). It's just they're not THAT blatant.
ReplyDeleteThough they're pretty bold too. Check out our list of Our Friends Top Reviewers and you'll see what I mean. Check out guys like John Matlock "Gunny", or W.Boudville, or Robert Morris -- the list goes on and on.
Alrin, about "especially when coming from a fellow reviewer" -- 'reviewer' is not the problem, fraud is. Still a fellow?
ReplyDeleteHurriet does give the very infrequent three star review. You can find a link to one such review on The Harriet Klausner Appreciation Society blog.
ReplyDeleteI left a comment on her review of Buckell's book because it was patently obvious she had not read the novel.
She has reviewed a lot of really good authors in addition to the Nascar romances and Christian fiction that make up her usual fare. That was what first made me notice her, and once you've seen her in action it's mesmerizing, like looking at a train wreck.